Ferrari Wanted Pop-Up Headlights For The 849 Testarossa, But Regulations Said No

Ferrari's new 849 Testarossa has become one of the brand's most talked-about models, but not because of its performance. While the styling continues to split opinion, the car could have looked even more nostalgic if Ferrari had been able to revive one of its most iconic design features.

Speaking during the hybrid supercar's international launch, Ferrari designer Jason Furtado revealed that the team seriously considered fitting pop-up headlights as a tribute to legends like the 288 GTO and F40.

However, modern safety and homologation regulations across Ferrari's global markets made the idea impossible. Instead, the designers created a slim lighting signature embedded within a black panel across the nose, offering a subtle reference to the classic hidden-headlight look.

Furtado also explained that the 849 Testarossa draws much of its inspiration from the 512 S and 512 M endurance racers of the 1970s. That influence pushed the design toward sharper, more geometric proportions rather than the flowing lines many people associate with Ferrari. According to him, the goal wasn't to play it safe, but to create something capable of starting a new design conversation.

"I think it's more important to really set a new trend rather than playing it safe," Furtado said. "We have to make a new desirable object for the imagination."

Regardless of where opinions land on the styling, the performance is difficult to argue with. The 849 Testarossa evolves the SF90's hybrid formula with an updated 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 featuring revised cylinder heads, exhaust manifolds, and turbochargers. Producing 819 hp on its own and working alongside three electric motors, the system delivers a combined 1,035 hp to all four wheels, giving the car the performance expected from Ferrari's latest flagship.